Conducting a Membership Interview

Driving home: one, if not carefully and biblically managed, can very quickly erode the strength of the church while increasing the church numerically.

Paul's analogy of the church as a building (1 Corinthians 3) is used to illustrate the danger of building with defective materials, linking it to the importance of careful membership admission.

And this is an issue that relates very directly to the sober warning given by the Apostle Paul in 1 Corinthians chapter 3, verse 10b and following, in which, likening the church to a building, he says that he was a wise master builder and laid a foundation, but let each man take heed how he builds thereon. And then he goes on to say that it's possible where a church has been laid in a solid biblical foundation, that superstructuralism,

0:49 - 1:29 Read in full sermon

Driving home: Once you and the other officers and then the church lose this vision and passionate concern to be good stewards of the keys of admission, and exclusion, the door is wide open to formalism, deadness, carnality, and eventu…

The analogy of individual pursuit of holiness despite never achieving sinless perfection is used to argue that the presence of hypocrites does not justify sloppy use of the keys of admission.

Never. Any more than the realization that you will never be sinfully perfect is the occasion for you to be sloppy in your pursuit of holiness.

22:09 - 22:21 Read in full sermon

Driving home: But there is nothing in the New Testament to indicate that that is an acceptable, let alone a desirable distinction.

The descriptions of the church as a body and a family are used to illustrate the expectation of full participation from all members, where the whole body or family gathers together.

When the church is described as body, the assumption is that all who are members of the body think and act as one organism. Likewise, when the church is conceived of as family, it is assumed that when the family gathers to eat, all will be present to feed. When the family gathers to be instructed, all will be present for the instruction delivered by those appointed to perform that task. And if you do not have a deep concern to have a fully participating membership only,

25:50 - 26:33 Read in full sermon

Driving home: One of the most subtle ways that the enemy has weakened the church is by causing its overseers to fail to make a distinction between what is necessary for a child to be saved and to regard them as saved and what is right…

An article by David Kingdon on the Anabaptists is recounted to illustrate how, in the second generation, the absence of persecution led to routine pre-adult baptism, excommunication, and creeping nominalism, weakening the church.

And if we don't understand that distinction and we can't make it comfortably before long we will not have churches where we let people in the front door by pedo-baptism but by toddler and pre-teen baptism. And we've opened the door to all kinds of problems that will eventually weaken the church and history has shown what happens when that is so. It's very interesting. There was a fascinating article I've never been able to come across the original book but it was in an old reformation today an article by David Kingdon on the problem of the second generation and what happened among the Anabapti...

38:51 - 39:34 Read in full sermon

The point: If an applicant is 'top-heavy' on experience but light on Christ's work, wisely probe to get them to express what lies at the root of the changes in their life, focusing on Christ.

An example of an applicant who emphasizes life changes but says little about Christ's redemptive work is given to show how to probe for understanding of the 'redemptive tap roots' without putting words in their mouth.

Now as you do you'll find almost invariably that some people tend to be top heavy on one or the other of these two major categories. You'll have some people that are so enamored with the changes God has wrought that they almost forget to say anything about the great redemptive tap roots of the change. Well I know I'm a Christian because I was a cursing foul-mouthed lecherous drunkard and God was pleased to turn me around and give me a new heart so that I love God and I don't love my booze and I treat my wife and they're really strong on the change that's occurred and you don't despise that.

48:36 - 49:19 Read in full sermon

The point: If an applicant's understanding of basic gospel truths is deficient, encourage them to hold off membership, providing further instruction (e.g., tapes) and inviting them back for another interview.

The story of the Jerusalem church initially rejecting Paul's membership application, fearing he was a spy, is used to illustrate the need for careful discernment and not being ashamed to 'shut the door' if a profession seems unreal.

but it may not be a saving experience of the grace of God. It may be it may not be it may be that their ignorance has simply kept them from giving expression to what is there in seminal form but we can't read hearts. We are to judge of confessions. Now you remember that they were very careful even with the Apostle Paul.

51:14 - 51:36 Read in full sermon

The point: Do not feel guilty if you hold someone off from membership; it is for the good of their soul and the maintenance of the church's standards.

The parable of the unfortunate widow is alluded to, suggesting that if applicants truly love God and His people, they will persist through multiple interviews if necessary, demonstrating their sincerity.

So you and I need not feel guilty if you hold someone off. It's for the good of their own souls and it's for the good of the maintenance of these things that we've said undergird that membership interview. That's why you must never forget those things and say well the person will be hurt and be offended. Listen, if they've got the real thing they'll be like the unfortunate widow.

52:19 - 52:41 Read in full sermon

The point: If an applicant is weak on faith content, probe with simple, direct questions like, 'If you died 10 minutes from now, on what basis should God let you into His presence?'

An example of a young lady with struggles with assurance is given, who, when probed, articulated her conviction of being a new creature through grief over sin and love for communion with God, demonstrating experiential faith.

On the other hand you have some brought up in the Christian home under good preaching and they've got all the terminology and man they will sound like a theologian half glorified and they're just rip it off just like this. Now what you do with them I did this with one of our young ladies because I know she's had struggles with assurance in the past and what I said to her was so and so you've given a very clear account and she did very clear account of the objective truths. I said now in the light of the struggles you've had with assurance what makes you believe that these truths that you've al...

54:20 - 55:04 Read in full sermon

The point: Carefully assess if applicants understand commitment as duty and principled obedience, especially in a generation that confuses it with hypocrisy.

The distinction between principled obedience (doing duty even without feeling like it) and hypocrisy (doing it only when felt) is highlighted, explaining that the current generation often confuses the two, requiring careful teaching on commitment as duty.

And we check them off. Sometimes they've been able to nail down every one of these things right out of their own minds. It's obvious they did their homework they really studied this section they were coming in intelligently but because we live in a day when the idea of commitment and commitment as duty is so foreign to the whole climate we've really got to press this area. This is the generation if you don't feel like doing it and you do it that's hypocrisy.

58:58 - 59:23 Read in full sermon

The point: Do not lay a burden of membership responsibilities upon those with limited mental capacity or emotional stability who are unable to bear it.

The analogy of a volunteer army is used to explain that while church membership is voluntary, once enlisted, it lays upon members mandatory, non-negotiable duties, just as a drill sergeant gives orders to sworn-in volunteers.

So if ever you're careful in the membership interview you better be careful here in seeing if indeed these people have an understanding of and an ability and determination to fulfill their responsibilities as church members. The church is a voluntary society but having the ability of being enlisted and joined it lays upon you mandatory duties not negotiable duties.

59:44 - 60:13 Read in full sermon

The point: Undertake an examination of the candidate's present understanding of and disposition of teachableness with respect to your confession of faith and constitution, avoiding both latitudinarianism and overly strict demands.

An extended quotation from Benjamin Griffith's treatise 'A True and Orderly Gospel Church' is used to illustrate the historical Baptist polity of thorough examination of applicants' hope, knowledge, and life before church admission.

Now, obviously in our day the danger is not to have too high a standard of confessional and constitutional commitment but to have too low a standard. In preparing for this lecture I re-read sections of this short treatise concerning a true and orderly gospel church by Benjamin Griffith a Welshman who was very influential here in the States in the early Baptist thinking in the Philadelphia Association was a church planter and it's a very interesting treatise we hope to have it reprinted but in the section on church membership admission of

65:02 - 65:47 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: The third directive is to examine the candidate's understanding of and teachableness regarding the church's confession of faith and constitution, avoiding both latitudinarianism…

An example of an academy applicant who expressed unwillingness to be taught on certain doctrinal issues (like the Lord's Day Sabbath) is used to illustrate when to politely but firmly decline admission due to a lack of teachable spirit.

present understanding of and disposition of teachableness with respect to your confession of faith and constitution this is not some bizarre position and while a person may say I've read through the confession there's nothing there that I really disagree with there's much I don't understand then you ask them what is your disposition one of willingness to be taught now if someone says as we recently got a letter of someone inquiring into the academy saying I don't know if you want me I've already inquired into this issue and that issue among them being the Lord's Day Sabbath and I have decided ...

70:13 - 70:58 Read in full sermon

The point: Undertake an examination of the candidate's understanding of and willingness to embrace the rule and oversight of the existing elders.

Martin presents a developing thesis that a lawless generation's enmity to God focuses on His law, particularly where it impinges on external behavior (e.g., Fourth Commandment, parental government, female submission, and church rule), explaining why submission to elders is so resisted.

in any day of the church but particularly in our day one of these days I'm going to preach on what is a growing thesis with me that if man's enmity to God focuses upon the expression of the will of God in his law Romans 8-7 where will a lawless generation most clearly manifest its enmity to God it will manifest it to his law and to his law where it most clearly impinges on his external behavior that's why there's such hatred to the fourth commandment it's a commandment that touches minutes and hours and external activities

71:43 - 72:27 Read in full sermon

The point: Ask applicants if they are prepared to submit to the elders 'in the Lord,' meaning they will welcome admonition and guidance even in personal areas like romantic relationships or attendance.

A humorous anecdote about a single young woman who, when asked if elders had a right to pick her husband, enthusiastically said yes, is used to illustrate the need to clarify the scope of elder oversight in personal matters like romance.

now we had the shock of our lives with one of our singles recently trying to show that we could not lord it over her conscience but her disposition was so sweet we said now so and so do you believe these men have a right to pick out a husband for you she said oh yes absolutely we said oh no no no wait a minute she said no no she said well what I mean is you men are wiser you're more discerning than I am you could make a much better choice than I could make we said well we appreciate the compliments but no no the head of the church hasn't given us the task of being matchmakers no we would not p...

76:09 - 76:53 Read in full sermon

The point: Encourage members to approach elders if they believe the elders are acting contrary to the Word of God, assuring them they will be welcomed, not intimidated.

The example of a single person showing romantic interest in an 'unknown commodity' (non-believer or non-member) is used to illustrate a specific area where elders must lovingly intrude and admonish, as it is crucial for the member's soul.

answered she said well of course so we have a Trinity Verge version of matchmaker matchmaker find me a match make me a catch etc but the point that we emphasize is look if you begin to show an interest in someone who is not a professed believer or is not a member of this church or of a church of light faith in order so that we can assume that they have come through a biblical screening to be professed disciples of Christ we'll be deeply concerned about that that you would begin to let yourself get romantically involved with an unknown commodity will you welcome

76:53 - 77:38 Read in full sermon

The point: Encourage members to approach elders if they believe the elders are acting contrary to the Word of God, assuring them they will be welcomed, not intimidated.

The example of a married man (Henry) is used to illustrate how elders might address issues in his home administration (disciplining children, sensitivity to wife), clarifying that this is part of their oversight responsibility.

our loving gracious intrusion into that very personal area of your lives we watch for your soul what will be more crucial to the well-being of your soul for years to come than the husband or the wife that you choose and we press that issue and we've had more than one occasion to remind people later on that in an interview they said oh yes I would welcome that easy to say that when the heartstrings are not fluttering for a forbidden object so get specific with them in terms of their situation it's a married man say to him now Henry you're a married man as we get to know you and the way you admi...

77:38 - 78:22 Read in full sermon

The point: When addressing questions about previous baptisms, help individuals discern if their prior baptism was a true act of obedience to Christ with a desire to please Him, or if it was not a true baptism.

The analogy of a child sneaking communion is used to explain that a baptism performed without true conversion is no more valid than unauthorized communion, thus clarifying that a subsequent, true baptism is not 're-baptism' but a first valid baptism.

the real thing and often that helps and they say no that's where I am we say well we see no need then to repeat the ordinance because any repetition of the ordinance can tend to demean it and you're going to end up people with get an overly sensitive conscience and every time they discover a new truth they want to get baptized again you got people who have been baptized five six times it makes the ordinance ludicrous but if a person says no there's no question in my mind I had nothing real until such and such a time then we say look then your baptism was no more true baptism than if as a kid y...

81:21 - 82:04 Read in full sermon